Hopkins at Eden Prairie
4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 15

A total of 23 runs decided the three games between Hopkins and Eden Prairie last season. The Eagles won the season series 2-1, but their 12-1 loss to the Royals in the regular-season finale on May 15 is not forgotten.

With just five conference wins last season, Eden Prairie was tied for second-to-last place in the Lake Conference. The Eagles begin 2015 with their sights aimed much higher.

Lauren Oberle hit a lead-off home run to ignite the Eagles to a 6-2 win over Park of Cottage Grove in the PrairieDome on opening day. Junior Johanna Welter gave up just two runs in six innings pitched in notching the victory.

Hopkins' start has not been cheery. The Royals dropped a pair of one-run affairs to Eagan and Irondale, and will find themselves playing catch-up in an unrelenting conference with a loss to the Eagles.